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SMALL BUSINESS OPTIMISM INDEX COMPONENTS
Index ComponentSeasonally
Adjusted LevelChange from Last Month
Contribution to Index Change
Plans to Increase Employment 12% -2 *Plans to Make Capital Outlays 26% 0 *Plans to Increase Inventories 4% 2 *Expect Economy to Improve -1% -1 *Expect Real Sales Higher 15% -1 *Current Inventory -2% -1 *Current Job Openings 29% 3 *Expected Credit Conditions -4% 1 *Now a Good Time to Expand 13% 0 *Earnings Trends -19% 0 *Total Change 1 *(Column 1 is the current reading; column 2 is the change from the prior month; column 3 the percent of the total change accounted for by each component; * is under 1 percent and not a meaningful calculation)
1201 “F” Street NW
Suite 200W
ashington, DC
20004 nfib.com
Based on a Survey of Small and Independent Business Owners
NFIB SMALL BUSINESS
ECONOMIC TRENDS NFIB SMALL BUSINESS
ECONOMIC TRENDS
NFIBS
MA
LL B
USIN
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NFIBS
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William C. DunkelbergHolly Wade
SBET_CVR_2012.indd 1-2SBET_CVR_2012.indd 1-2 3/30/2012 11:27:49 AM3/30/2012 11:27:49 AM
February 2015
NFIB SMALL BUSINESS
ECONOMIC TRENDS_____________________
NFIB Research Foundation has collected Small Business Economic Trends Data with Quarterly surveys since 1973 and monthly surveys since 1986. The sample is drawn from the membership files of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). Each was mailed a questionnaire and one reminder. Subscriptions for twelve monthly SBET issues are$250. Historical and unadjusted data are available, along with a copy of the questionnaire, from the NFIB Research Foundation. You may reproduce Small Business Economic Trends items if you cite the publication name and date and note it is a copyright of the NFIB Research Foundation. © NFIB Research Foundation. ISBS #0940791-24-2. Chief Economist William C. Dunkelberg and Director of Research and Policy Analyst Holly Wade are responsible for the report.
IN THIS ISSUE_____________________Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Commentary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Optimism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Outlook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Earnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Prices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8Employment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Credit Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Inventories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Capital Outlays. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Most Important Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18Survey Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19Economic Survey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
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SUMMARYOPTIMISM INDEXThe Index of Small Business Optimism gained 0.1 points to reach 98.0, the long-term average including the Great Recession and the third highest reading since early 2007. Only eclipsed by November and December 2014 which were a bit higher. Of the ten Index components, the largest gain was in the percent of owners reporting hard-to-fill openings (3 points). Changes were smaller in other components, 2 point increase for inventory investment plans, negative 2 points for job creation plans, and less for the other components. Overall, not a lot of movement in the overall Index or in the components.
LABOR MARKETSFifty-three percent reported hiring or trying to hire (up 5 points), but 47 percent reported few or no qualified applicants for the positions they were trying to fill. Twelve percent reported using temporary workers, down 2 points. A net 12 percent planning to create new jobs, down 2 points but a solid reading. Twenty-nine percent of all owners reported job openings they could not fill in the current period, up 3 points and the highest reading since April 2006. Fourteen percent cited the availability of qualified labor as their top business problem, the highest since September 2007. The job openings figure is one of the highest in 40 years and this suggests that labor markets are tightening and that there will be more pressure on compensation in the coming months.
INVENTORIES AND SALESThe net percent of all owners (seasonally adjusted) reporting higher nominal sales in the past 3 months compared to the prior 3 months retreated 3 points, falling to a net negative 6 percent. After a 5 point decline in January, this indicator has returned to the low for 2014 reached in March of last year. Expected real sales volumes posted a 1 point decline, falling to a net 15 percent of owners expecting gains, after a 4 point decline in January. Sales prospects are still looking reasonably good to owners, just not as hot as in the fourth quarter last year.
The pace of inventory change remained positive, with a net 2 percent of all owners reporting growth in inventories (seasonally adjusted), unchanged from January. Owners are building inventory. This is the fourth non-negative month in a row, and the first string of positive numbers since early 2007. The net percent of owners viewing current inventory stocks as “too low” deteriorated 1 point to a net negative 2 percent, historically a fairly “satisfied” reading. The net percent of owners planning to add to inventory stocks rose 2 points to 4 percent, a very solid reading. If businesses accumulate inventory faster than spending rises in Q1, this will depress growth in 2015 Q2 if owners pull back on inventory investment.
This survey was conducted in February 2015. A sample of 3,938 small-business owners/members was drawn. Seven hundred and sixteen (716) usable responses were received – a response rate of 18 percent.
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tCAPITAL SPENDING
Sixty percent reported outlays, up 1 point from January and the strongest reading since October 2007. The percent of owners planning capital outlays in the next 3 to 6 months was unchanged at 26 percent, the third best reading for this expansion but still weak historically. Of the 43 percent of owners who said it was a bad time to expand, 23 percent still blamed the political environment (up 4 points). The net percent of owners expecting better business conditions in six months dropped 1 point to a net negative 1 percent. A net 15 percent of all owners expect improved real sales volumes, down 1 point after a 4 point decline in January. Still good readings for this expansion, but historically not so hot.
INFLATION
Seasonally adjusted, the net percent of owners raising selling prices was a net 0 percent, a very “tame” reading. There are no inflation pressures coming from Main Street. Seasonally adjusted, a net 19 percent plan price hikes (unchanged). A stronger economy will allow owners to actually realize their plans to raise prices, but so far, reports of actual price hikes and early indicators of first quarter economic activity suggest that markets will not yet support higher prices.
EARNINGS AND WAGES
Earnings trends were unchanged at a net negative 19 percent (net percent reporting quarter to quarter earnings trending higher or lower). After surging in December, reports of increased labor compensation dropped 5 percentage points to a net 20 percent of all owners. Labor costs continue to put pressure on the bottom line but energy prices are down a lot. Four percent reported reduced worker compensation and 26 percent reported raising compensation. This should begin to show up in wage growth, although rising benefits offset potential increases in take-home pay. A seasonally adjusted net 14 percent plan to raise compensation in the coming months (up 2 points). The reported gains in compensation are still in the range typical of an economy with reasonable growth, and labor market conditions are suggestive of a tightening, which will put further upward pressure on compensation along with government regulations including the healthcare law.
CREDIT MARKETS Three percent of owners reported that all their credit needs were not met, holding at an historic low level. Thirty-three percent reported all credit needs met, and 53 percent explicitly said they did not want a loan. Only 3 percent reported that financing was their top business problem (up 1 point)Thirty percent of all owners reported borrowing on a regular basis, down 3 points. The average rate paid on short maturity loans fell 20 basis points to 5.1 percent. Loan demand remained historically weak. The improved optimism and plans to hire and spend over the past 4 months have not triggered a surge in owners’ willingness to borrow and make a bet on the future. The net percent of owners expecting credit conditions to ease in the coming months was a negative 4 percent, a 1 point improvement.
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COMMENTARYThe economy lost a lot of momentum in the fourth quarter, with GDP growth now estimated at 2.2 percent (up 2.4 percent for the year) after strong second and third quarter performances. Imports grew substantially, accompanying the huge decline in oil prices. The reduction in oil prices was a great tax cut for the economy, granted by the private sector. Gasoline prices plunged, although recently they have risen steadily, adversely impacting consumer sentiment, mostly due to problems with refining capacity. But gas prices remain much lower than year ago levels, continuing to feed consumer spending and saving.
Historically the small business sector produces about half the private GDP and employs half of the private sector workforce. During the recovery, this sector did not pull its historic weight, slowing the recovery in employment substantially. In the boom, not only were too many houses built but too many firms were started, and filled with inventories to satisfy consumer spending driven by a 2 percent saving rate. Huge numbers of firms and their jobs were lost in the recession, nearly 900,000 establishments in each of the years 2008 and 2009. The NFIB data suggest that the surviving firms are regaining stride and the BLS data now show more starts than terminations, supporting job growth.
NFIB indicators of job creation have anticipated the relatively more favorable numbers reported by BLS. Owners are finding reasons to hire even though the “macro” indicators are not showing a lot of growth. Labor markets are tightening as the percent of owners reporting unfilled openings (BLS) has risen significantly and is now the highest reading since 2001. And the percent of owners citing the availability of qualified workers as their top business problem is at the highest level since December 2007, just ahead of the peak in employment in that expansion. There are fundamental domestic economic currents leading owners to add workers and these should bubble up in the official statistics and support stronger growth in domestic output.
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OVERVIEW - SMALL BUSINESS OPTIMISM
OPTIMISM INDEX
Based on Ten Survey Indicators(Seasonally Adjusted 1986=100)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2010 89.3 88.0 86.8 90.6 92.2 89.0 88.1 88.8 89.0 91.7 93.2 92.6
2011 94.1 94.5 91.9 91.2 90.9 90.8 89.9 88.1 88.9 90.2 92.0 93.8
2012 93.9 94.3 92.5 94.5 94.4 91.4 91.2 92.9 92.8 93.1 87.5 88.0
2013 88.9 90.8 89.5 92.1 94.4 93.5 94.1 94.1 93.9 91.6 92.5 93.9
2014 94.1 91.4 93.4 95.2 96.6 95.0 95.7 96.1 95.3 96.1 98.1 100.4
2015 97.9 98.0
OPTIMISM INDEX
Based on Ten Survey Indicators(Seasonally Adjusted 1986=100)
OUTLOOK
Good Time to Expand and Expected General Business ConditionsJanuary 1986 to February 2015
(Seasonally Adjusted)
SMALL BUSINESS OUTLOOK
80
90
100
110
86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 04 06 08 10 12 14
Inde
x V
alue
(198
6=10
0)
YEAR
-40
-20
0
20
40
60
80
0
10
20
30
86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 04 06 08 10 12 14Perc
ent "
Goo
d Ti
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(thic
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Perc
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Bette
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"Wor
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Expe
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Gen
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Bu
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(thi
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YEAR
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SMALL BUSINESS OUTLOOK (CONTINUED)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2010 5 4 2 4 5 6 5 4 6 7 9 8
2011 8 7 5 4 5 4 6 5 6 7 8 10
2012 9 8 7 7 7 5 5 4 7 7 6 8
2013 6 5 4 4 8 7 9 6 8 6 9 10
2014 8 6 8 8 10 7 10 9 13 11 11 16
2015 13 13
OUTLOOK FOR EXPANSION
Percent Next Three Months “Good Time to Expand”(Seasonally Adjusted)
MOST IMPORTANT REASON FOR EXPANSION OUTLOOK
Reason Percent by Expansion OutlookFebruary 2015
Reason Good Time Not Good Time Uncertain
Economic Conditions 7 24 15
Sales Prospects 4 5 3
Fin. & Interest Rates 2 1 1
Cost of Expansion 0 5 5
Political Climate 1 9 11
Other/Not Available 0 5 5
OUTLOOK FOR GENERAL BUSINESS CONDITIONS
Net Percent (“Better” Minus “Worse”) Six Months From Now(Seasonally Adjusted)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2010 1 -9 -8 0 8 -6 -15 -8 -3 8 16 9
2011 10 9 -5 -8 -5 -11 -15 -26 -22 -16 -12 -8
2012 -3 -6 -8 -5 -2 -10 -8 -2 2 2 -35 -35
2013 -30 -28 -28 -15 -5 -4 -6 -2 -10 -17 -20 -11
2014 -11 -19 -18 -9 0 -10 -6 -3 -2 -3 13 12
2015 0 -1
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SMALL BUSINESS EARNINGS
EARNINGS
Actual Last Three MonthsJanuary 1986 to February 2015
(Seasonally Adjusted)
ACTUAL EARNINGS CHANGES
Net Percent (“Higher” Minus “Lower”) Last Three MonthsCompared to Prior Three Months
(Seasonally Adjusted)
MOST IMPORTANT REASON FOR LOWER EARNINGS
Percent ReasonFebruary 2015
Current Month One Year Ago Two Years Ago
Sales Volume 13 19 19
Increased Costs* 9 11 13
Cut Selling Prices 4 3 2
Usual Seasonal Change 9 7 5
Other 4 4 3
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2010 -42 -39 -43 -31 -28 -32 -33 -30 -33 -26 -30 -34
2011 -28 -27 -32 -26 -24 -24 -24 -26 -27 -26 -28 -22
2012 -24 -19 -23 -12 -15 -22 -27 -28 -27 -26 -32 -29
2013 -26 -26 -23 -23 -22 -23 -22 -21 -23 -23 -24 -22
2014 -27 -27 -24 -20 -17 -18 -18 -17 -19 -20 -17 -15
2015 -19 -19
* Increased costs include labor, materials, finance, taxes, and regulatory costs.
-50
-40
-30
-20
-10
0
86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 04 06 08 10 12 14
Net P
erce
nt
YEAR
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SMALL BUSINESS SALES
SALES EXPECTATIONS
Net Percent (“Higher” Minus “Lower”) During Next Three Months(Seasonally Adjusted)
ACTUAL SALES CHANGES
Net Percent (“Higher” Minus “Lower”) Last Three MonthsCompared to Prior Three Months
(Seasonally Adjusted)
SALES
Actual (Prior Three Months) and Expected (Next Three Months)January 1986 to February 2015
(Seasonally Adjusted)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2010 -26 -26 -25 -15 -11 -15 -16 -16 -17 -13 -15 -16
2011 -11 -11 -12 -5 -9 -7 -8 -9 -10 -12 -11 -7
2012 -6 -7 1 4 2 -5 -9 -13 -13 -15 -15 -10
2013 -9 -9 -7 -4 -4 -8 -7 -6 -6 -8 -8 -8
2014 -10 -8 -6 -2 -1 -2 -3 -2 -4 -3 -4 2
2015 -3 -6
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2010 3 0 -3 6 5 -5 -4 0 -3 1 6 8
2011 13 14 6 5 3 0 -2 -12 -6 -4 4 9
2012 10 12 8 6 2 -3 -4 1 1 3 -5 -2
2013 -1 1 -4 4 8 5 7 5 8 2 3 8
2014 15 3 12 10 15 11 10 6 5 9 14 20
2015 16 15
-40-30-20-10
01020304050
86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 04 06 08 10 12 14
Expected
Actual
Net P
erce
nt
YEAR
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SMALL BUSINESS PRICES
PRICE PLANS
Net Percent (“Higher” Minus “Lower”) in the Next Three Months(Seasonally Adjusted)
ACTUAL PRICE CHANGES
Net Percent (“Higher” Minus “Lower”)Compared to Three Months Ago
(Seasonally Adjusted)
PRICES
Actual Last Three Months and Planned Next Three MonthsJanuary 1986 to February 2015
(Seasonally Adjusted)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2010 -18 -21 -20 -11 -15 -13 -11 -8 -11 -5 -4 -5
2011 -4 5 9 12 15 10 7 1 6 -1 0 0
2012 -1 1 6 8 3 3 8 9 6 5 0 0
2013 2 2 -1 3 2 8 4 2 1 5 2 -1
2014 2 1 9 12 12 14 14 6 4 8 4 4
2015 3 0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2010 8 10 9 13 14 11 10 10 7 12 13 15
2011 19 21 24 24 23 15 19 16 14 14 15 14
2012 17 19 21 23 17 16 17 17 19 16 16 16
2013 21 23 17 18 15 18 15 18 19 18 19 19
2014 19 23 19 22 21 21 22 19 16 20 19 22
2015 19 19
-30
-20
-10
0
10
20
30
40
86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 04 06 08 10 12 14
Planned
ActualNet P
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f Firm
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YEAR
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SMALL BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2010 -10 -9 -11 -12 -12 -10 -5 -2 -3 -6 -2 -1
2011 -4 -2 -4 -6 -3 -7 -2 -2 -5 0 2 1
2012 0 -2 -3 -4 -5 -3 1 2 -3 1 -1 -2
2013 2 -2 -2 -2 -3 -1 -1 4 0 3 2 4
2014 2 2 -1 -2 -1 -1 3 4 3 3 2 9
2015 5 4
ACTUAL EMPLOYMENT CHANGES
Net Percent (“Increase” Minus “Decrease”) in the Last Three Months(Seasonally Adjusted)
QUALIFIED APPLICANTS FOR JOB OPENINGS
Percent Few or No Qualified Applicants(Seasonally Adjusted)
EMPLOYMENT
Planned Next Three Months and Current Job OpeningsJanuary 1986 to February 2015
(Seasonally Adjusted)
-10
0
10
20
30
40
86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 04 06 08 10 12 14
Planned
Job Openings
YEAR
Perc
ent
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2010 24 26 23 26 26 25 28 32 30 28 27 28
2011 28 30 29 32 30 33 31 33 34 31 35 34
2012 31 31 32 34 37 33 38 37 41 38 36 33
2013 34 34 36 38 38 41 40 42 41 40 44 38
2014 38 40 41 41 46 43 42 46 42 45 45 43
2015 42 47
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SMALL BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT (CONTINUED)
JOB OPENINGS
Percent With Positions Not Able to Fill Right Now(Seasonally Adjusted)
HIRING PLANS
Net Percent (“Increase” Minus “Decrease”) in the Next Three Months(Seasonally Adjusted)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2010 -1 -1 -2 -1 1 1 2 1 -3 1 4 6
2011 3 5 2 2 -1 3 2 5 4 3 7 6
2012 5 4 0 5 6 3 5 10 4 4 5 1
2013 3 4 0 6 5 7 9 10 9 5 9 8
2014 12 7 5 8 10 12 13 10 9 10 11 15
2015 14 12
SMALL BUSINESS COMPENSATION
COMPENSATION
Actual Last Three Months and Planned Next Three MonthsJanuary 1986 to February 2015
(Seasonally Adjusted)
-505
10152025303540
86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 04 06 08 10 12 14
Net P
erce
nt
YEAR
Planned Higher
Actual Higher
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2010 10 11 9 11 9 9 10 11 11 10 9 13
2011 13 15 15 14 12 15 12 15 14 14 16 15
2012 18 17 15 17 20 15 15 18 17 16 17 16
2013 18 21 18 18 19 19 20 19 20 21 23 23
2014 22 22 22 24 24 26 24 26 21 24 24 25
2015 26 29
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SMALL BUSINESS COMPENSATION (CONTINUED)
ACTUAL COMPENSATION CHANGES
Net Percent (“Increase” Minus “Decrease”) During Last Three Months(Seasonally Adjusted)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2010 1 -2 0 3 2 4 3 3 3 4 8 8
2011 10 8 7 9 9 8 10 9 8 7 10 10
2012 12 14 14 14 16 13 12 13 14 11 7 13
2013 13 14 16 15 16 14 14 15 17 16 14 19
2014 19 19 23 20 20 21 21 22 18 19 21 25
2015 25 20
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2010 1 6 3 5 4 3 5 6 3 5 5 3
2011 5 7 9 7 7 7 6 7 7 8 9 5
2012 6 12 9 9 9 7 8 10 10 9 4 5
2013 7 8 9 9 9 6 11 12 13 10 14 13
2014 11 14 14 14 15 13 14 15 15 13 15 17
2015 12 14
COMPENSATION PLANS
Net Percent (“Increase” Minus “Decrease”) in the Next Three Months(Seasonally Adjusted)
PRICES AND LABOR COMPENSATION
Net Percent Price Increase and Net Percent Compensation(Seasonally Adjusted)
-30
-20
-10
0
10
20
30
40
86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 04 06 08 10 12 14
Actual Prices
Actual Compensation
YEAR
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SMALL BUSINESS CREDIT CONDITIONS
CREDIT CONDITIONS
Loan Availability Compared to Three Months Ago*January 1986 to February 2015
* For the population borrowing at least once every three months.
REGULAR BORROWERS
Percent Borrowing at Least Once Every Three Months(Seasonally Adjusted)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2010 32 34 35 31 32 29 32 31 33 31 28 30
2011 31 31 29 32 29 29 30 32 31 30 34 31
2012 32 32 31 32 32 29 31 30 31 30 30 29
2013 31 29 30 31 29 29 31 28 30 28 29 30
2014 31 30 31 30 31 28 30 29 31 28 33 31
2015 33 30
AVAILABILITY OF LOANS
Net Percent (“Easier” Minus “Harder”)Compared to Three Months Ago
(Regular Borrowers)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2010 -14 -12 -15 -14 -13 -13 -13 -12 -14 -11 -11 -12
2011 -10 -11 -8 -9 -10 -9 -10 -13 -10 -11 -10 -8
2012 -8 -8 -11 -7 -9 -7 -7 -7 -6 -7 -9 -9
2013 -7 -7 -4 -7 -5 -6 -6 -6 -5 -6 -6 -7
2014 -6 -8 -8 -5 -6 -6 -5 -5 -7 -4 -5 -3
2015 -4 -3
-18-16-14-12-10-8-6-4-202
86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 04 06 08 10 12 14
Net P
erce
nt o
f Firm
s
YEAR
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SMALL BUSINESS CREDIT CONDITIONS (CONTINUED)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2010 27/11 29/9 29/11 28/9 28/8 25/10 27/9 27/9 27/9 26/9 25/9 28/9
2011 28/8 29/8 28/7 28/8 28/8 25/9 28/8 28/7 29/8 28/9 30/7 29/7
2012 30/7 31/7 27/8 31/8 29/9 29/7 30/7 31/7 32/8 28/8 28/6 29/6
2013 31/6 29/7 29/7 31/6 28/5 29/5 30/5 31/5 28/6 28/6 32/4 32/4
2014 31/5 29/5 30/5 30/5 30/5 27/6 30/6 28/4 28/6 29/4 29/4 32/4
2015 32/4 33/3
BORROWING NEEDS SATISFIED
Percent of All Businesses Last Three Months Satisfied/Percent of All Businesses Last Three Months Not Satisfied
(All Borrowers)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2010 -13 -14 -16 -15 -12 -13 -14 -14 -14 -12 -10 -11
2011 -10 -10 -9 -13 -11 -10 -11 -13 -12 -11 -10 -9
2012 -9 -10 -11 -8 -10 -8 -7 -9 -7 -8 -10 -11
2013 -9 -8 -6 -8 -6 -7 -8 -8 -7 -8 -7 -7
2014 -7 -7 -7 -6 -7 -7 -5 -5 -7 -5 -6 -5
2015 -5 -4
EXPECTED CREDIT CONDITIONS
Net Percent (“Easier” Minus “Harder”) During Next Three Months(Regular Borrowers)
INTEREST RATES
Relative Rates and Actual Rates Last Three MonthsJanuary 1986 to February 2015
-40
-20
0
20
40
5
7
9
11
13
86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 04 06 08 10 12 14
YEAR
Avg
. Sho
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(thic
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Rate
Rel
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SMALL BUSINESS CREDIT CONDITIONS (CONTINUED)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2010 6 6 9 5 4 0 2 3 1 1 0 1
2011 3 6 5 5 3 0 0 1 1 -2 -1 -3
2012 1 2 3 0 -1 -5 -3 -2 0 -1 2 -2
2013 0 2 3 1 -1 -3 1 3 3 1 3 2
2014 5 5 5 3 1 -1 0 2 2 -1 1 -2
2015 3 2
RELATIVE INTEREST RATE PAID BY REGULAR BORROWERS
Net Percent (“Higher” Minus “Lower”) Compared to Three Months Ago
Borrowing at Least Once Every Three Months.
ACTUAL INTEREST RATE PAID ON SHORT-TERM LOANS BY BORROWERS
Average Interest Rate Paid
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2010 6.3 6.0 6.8 6.4 6.5 6.0 6.3 6.3 6.2 6.0 5.7 6.2
2011 6.0 6.0 5.9 6.5 6.0 6.0 5.9 6.1 6.1 6.2 6.3 5.9
2012 6.0 5.8 5.7 5.7 5.5 6.3 5.7 5.7 5.7 5.8 5.7 5.6
2013 5.5 5.3 5.4 5.6 5.7 5.2 5.6 5.4 5.8 5.4 5.4 5.6
2014 5.6 5.4 5.3 5.4 5.7 5.7 5.4 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.1
2015 5.3 5.1
SMALL BUSINESS INVENTORIES
INVENTORIES
Actual (Last Three Months) and Planned (Next Three Months)January 1986 to February 2015
(Seasonally Adjusted)
-30-25-20-15-10-505
1015
86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 04 06 08 10 12 14
Actual
Planned
Net P
erce
nt
YEAR
15 |
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SMALL BUSINESS INVENTORIES (CONTINUED)
ACTUAL INVENTORY CHANGES
Net Percent (“Increase” Minus “Decrease”) During Last Three Months(Seasonally Adjusted)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2010 -21 -18 -18 -18 -20 -21 -19 -15 -14 -16 -15 -13
2011 -10 -8 -7 -9 -13 -14 -13 -9 -11 -10 -10 -10
2012 -7 0 -9 -8 -8 -7 -10 -7 -8 -8 -10 -10
2013 -7 -9 -6 -6 -7 -7 -10 -5 -7 -6 -7 -4
2014 -4 -2 -6 -6 -4 -4 -3 -2 -7 -1 1 0
2015 2 2
INVENTORY SATISFACTION
Net Percent (“Too Low” Minus “Too Large”) at Present Time(Seasonally Adjusted)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2010 -1 -1 -1 1 0 -1 0 -1 -2 1 -3 -3
2011 0 2 -1 1 -1 -1 0 1 -1 0 -1 0
2012 1 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 -1 0 -2 0
2013 -1 1 -1 -1 1 -2 -1 0 0 -5 -4 -5
2014 -2 -4 0 -1 -2 -2 -3 -2 0 -3 -3 -3
2015 -1 -2
INVENTORY PLANS
Net Percent (“Increase” Minus “Decrease”) in the Next Three to Six Months(Seasonally Adjusted)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2010 -4 -7 -7 -2 2 -3 -4 -7 -3 -4 0 -3
2011 -1 -2 1 -1 -3 -3 -3 -5 -2 0 0 2
2012 -3 2 0 0 2 0 -1 -1 -1 -1 -5 -4
2013 -7 -1 -5 0 3 -1 -1 -2 -2 -1 0 -2
2014 -3 -5 1 3 1 -1 0 1 2 3 2 5
2015 2 4
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SMALL BUSINESS CAPITAL OUTLAYS
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES
Actual Last Six Months and Planned Next Three MonthsJanuary 1986 to February 2015
(Seasonally Adjusted)
ACTUAL CAPITAL EXPENDITURES
Percent Making a Capital Expenditure During the Last Six Months
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2010 47 47 45 46 46 46 45 44 45 47 51 47
2011 51 49 51 50 50 50 50 52 50 52 53 56
2012 55 57 52 54 55 52 54 55 51 54 53 52
2013 55 56 57 56 57 56 54 53 55 57 55 64
2014 59 57 56 57 55 54 55 58 56 56 57 60
2015 59 60
INVENTORY SATISFACTION AND INVENTORY PLANS
Net Percent (“Too Low” Minus “Too Large”) at Present TimeNet Percent Planning to Add Inventories in the Next Three to Six Months
(Seasonally Adjusted)
-15
-10
-5
0
5
10
15
86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 04 06 08 10 12 14
Inventory PlansInventory Satisfaction
Perc
ent
YEAR
15
25
35
45
55
65
75
86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 04 06 08 10 12 14
Perc
ent
YEAR
Actual
Planned
17 |
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SMALL BUSINESS CAPITAL OUTLAYS (CONTINUED)
AMOUNT OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURES MADE
Percent Distribution of Per Firm ExpendituresDuring the Last Six Months
Amount Current One Year Ago Two Years Ago
$1 to $999 3 3 3$1,000 to $4,999 9 9 10$5,000 to $9,999 5 8 4$10,000 to $49,999 21 20 15$50,000 to $99,999 8 9 8$100,000 + 11 14 11No Answer 2 1 1
CAPITAL EXPENDITURE PLANS
Percent Planning a Capital Expenditure During Next Three to Six Months(Seasonally Adjusted)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2010 20 20 19 19 20 19 18 16 19 18 20 21
2011 22 22 24 21 20 21 20 21 20 21 24 24
2012 24 23 22 25 24 21 21 24 21 22 19 20
2013 21 25 25 23 23 23 23 24 25 23 24 26
2014 24 25 24 25 24 22 23 27 22 26 25 29
2015 26 26
TYPE OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURES MADE
Percent Purchasing or Leasing During Last Six Months
Type Current One Year Ago Two Years Ago
Vehicles 25 23 23
Equipment 43 43 40
Furniture or Fixtures 12 13 12
Add. Bldgs. or Land 8 5 5
Improved Bldgs. or Land 16 14 13
18 |
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SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEM
SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEM
February 2015
Problem Current One
Year AgoSurvey
High Survey
Low
Taxes 20 19 32 8
Inflation 2 2 41 0
Poor Sales 12 16 34 2
Fin. & Interest Rates 3 2 37 1
Cost of Labor 6 5 9 2
Govt. Reqs. & Red Tape 21 21 27 4
Comp. From Large Bus. 8 7 14 4
Quality of Labor 14 11 24 3
Cost/Avail. of Insurance 9 9 29 4
Other 5 8 31 1
SELECTED SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEM
Inflation, Big Business, Insurance and RegulationJanuary 1986 to February 2015
0
10
20
30
40
86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 04 06 08 10 12 14
Big Business Insurance
Inflation Regulation
Perc
ent o
f Firm
s
YEAR
SELECTED SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEM
Taxes, Interest Rates, Sales and Labor QualityJanuary 1986 to February 2015
0
10
20
30
40
86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 04 06 08 10 12 14
Taxes Sales
Interest Rates & Finance Labor Quality
Perc
ent o
f Firm
s
YEAR
19 |
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SURVEY PROFILE
OWNER/MEMBERS PARTICIPATING IN ECONOMIC SURVEY NFIB
Actual Number of Firms
NFIB OWNER/MEMBERS PARTICIPATING IN ECONOMIC SURVEY
Industry of Small Business
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2010 2114 799 948 2176 823 804 2029 874 849 1910 807 804
2011 2144 774 811 1985 733 766 1817 926 729 2077 781 735
2012 2155 819 757 1817 681 740 1803 736 691 2029 733 648
2013 2033 870 759 1873 715 662 1615 782 773 1940 762 635
2014 1864 792 685 1699 678 672 1645 598 608 1502 615 568
2015 1663 716
NFIB OWNER/MEMBERS PARTICIPATING IN ECONOMIC SURVEY
Number of Full and Part-Time Employees
0
5
10
15
20
25
Perc
ent
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Perc
ent
20 |
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NFIB RESEARCH FOUNDATION SMALLBUSINESS ECONOMIC SURVEY
SMALL BUSINESS SURVEY QUESTIONS PAGE IN REPORT
Do you think the next three months will be a good time
for small business to expand substantially? Why? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
About the economy in general, do you think that six
months from now general business conditions will be
better than they are now, about the same, or worse? . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Were your net earnings or “income” (after taxes) from your
business during the last calendar quarter higher, lower, or
about the same as they were for the quarter before? . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
If higher or lower, what is the most important reason? . . . . . . . . . . 6
During the last calendar quarter, was your dollar sales
volume higher, lower, or about the same as it was for
the quarter before? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Overall, what do you expect to happen to real volume
(number of units) of goods and/or services that you will
sell during the next three months? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
How are your average selling prices compared to
three months ago? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
In the next three months, do you plan to change the
average selling prices of your goods and/or services? . . . . . . . . . . 8
During the last three months, did the total number of employees
in your firm increase, decrease, or stay about the same? . . . . . . . . 9
If you have filled or attempted to fill any job openings
in the past three months, how many qualified applicants
were there for the position(s)? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Do you have any job openings that you are not able
to fill right now? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
In the next three months, do you expect to increase or
decrease the total number of people working for you? . . . . . . . . . . 10
Over the past three months, did you change the average
employee compensation? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Do you plan to change average employee compensation
during the next three months? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
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SMALL BUSINESS SURVEY QUESTIONS PAGE IN REPORT
Are…loans easier or harder to get than they werethree months ago? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
During the last three months, was your firm able tosatisfy its borrowing needs? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Do you expect to find it easier or harder to obtain yourrequired financing during the next three months? . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
If you borrow money regularly (at least once every threemonths) as part of your business activity, how does therate of interest payable on your most recent loan comparewith that paid three months ago? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
If you borrowed within the last three months for businesspurposes, and the loan maturity (pay back period) was 1year or less, what interest rate did you pay? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
During the last three months, did you increase or decreaseyour inventories? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
At the present time, do you feel your inventories are toolarge, about right, or inadequate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Looking ahead to the next three months to six months,do you expect, on balance, to add to your inventories,keep them about the same, or decrease them? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
During the last six months, has your firm made any capitalexpenditures to improve or purchase equipment, buildings,or land? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
If [your firm made any capital expenditures], what wasthe total cost of all these projects? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Looking ahead to the next three to six months, do youexpect to make any capital expenditures for plantand/or physical equipment? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
What is the single most important problem facing yourbusiness today? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Please classify your major business activity, using oneof the categories of example below . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
How many employees do you have full and part-time,including yourself? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19